Waynesville police chief to appeal certification suspension
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams. File photo
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams had all of his law enforcement instructor certifications suspended by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission; however, he told The Smoky Mountain News late last week that he plans to appeal the commission’s ruling.
Adams was an instructor at Blue Ridge Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement program in Henderson County, where he’s originally from and where he cut his teeth as a young police officer. That program came under fire earlier this year when an investigation that began last year determined that “physical and verbal abuse” was inflicted on trainees by instructors, and some trainees even suffered injuries.
A video obtained by the television news station WLOS depicts a session where trainees are learning how to apprehend a combative suspect using a variety of blocks and strikes, including with a simulation baton. The video shows instructors who are role playing as belligerent suspects striking trainees. When one trainee’s helmet is knocked off, an instructor hits the trainee as he turns around with what is described in the corresponding article as “basically a sucker punch.”
At the time WLOS released that video, it also interviewed a former trainee who spoke under the condition of anonymity and said he didn’t think the harsh training methods would ever come to light since too many people had a “fear of retaliation.”
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards revoked Waynesville Police Chief David Adams’ General Instructor certification, Specialized Law Enforcement Driver Training Instructor certification and Specialized Subject Control Arrest Techniques Instructor certification.
While two instructors had their certifications restored, two others — Brevard Police Captain Danny Godman and Columbus Police Chief Kenneth Scott Hamby — also had their certifications suspended.
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In May when this investigation was made public, the commission also suspended the college’s BLET program for five years.
Adams said that while he can’t discuss the specific details of his suspension, he “looks forward to clearing this up during the appeal.”
